Signal



Patented May 3, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDA. BROWN, OF LOS NGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SIGNAL.

Application filed April 23, 1923. Serial No. 634,167.

Thisinvention hasI to do with a signal, andhas particular reference to a danger or warning signal of the general character used by workmen, where work `is being carried is danger, for instance, where construction work, orthe like, is going on. These signals are usually flags, and, in most. cases, simply comprise a piece of cloth, or the like, carried on a straight standard which is adapted to be driven into the ground. This ordinary simple type of signal is in many instances insutlicient in that the cloth or signal part is not carried in a manner so that it is conspicuous. Various more complicated forms of si gnals of this general character have not been i satisfactory in practice", in that they aie inconvenient for the workmen to handle and,

therefore, often not used when they should,

be, or lare cumbersome and inconvenient to transport from place to place.

It is an object of this invention to provide a-signal device which is particularly effective and in which the signal part is carried soI that it is particularly conspicuous.

vide a` signal which is particularly effective and which is simple in construction and particularly convenient to handle and transport.

The various objects and features of my invention will be bestand more fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form of the invention, throughout which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isa View showing the signal assembled and in operating condition;

Fig. 2 is a view showing the signal collapsed and in ,condition for transportation or handling;

Fig.I 3.is an enlarged detail sectional view of the joint construction between the standard and arm, showing the arm in the extended position with relation to the standard;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing thel arin` folded in with relation to the stand'- ar g Fig. `5 is an enlarged sectional View, being a view taken as indicated by line 5-5 on Fig. 4; y

Fig. G is an enlarged sectional view, being a .view taken as indicated by line 6--6 on Fig. 4;

,Fig 7 isa detail sectional View of the base; and

.F ig. 8 is a plan View of the base, being a view taken as indicated by the line 8 8 on l Fig'. 7.

The signal provided by my invention, includes, generally, a signal part 10; an arm 11, which carries the signal part 10; a standard 12, which carries and supports the arm 11'; and a base 13, adapted to carry the standard 12. The base 13 is, in accordance with the present invention, a comparatively heavy part; for instance, a casting, and is preferably formed with a comparativelywide base 14. In practicel the base can be conveniently made in the form of a cone, as I have illus-- trated throughout the' drawings, as this form has beenfound to be particularly effective and sightly. I provide the base 13 with a handle 15, to facilitate its being hany l dled. V In the preferred form of construction, Another object' of my invention is to prothe handle 15 is in the form of a loop, having its ends 16 rotatably carried in openings 17 which extend into the sides of the base at substantially diametrical opposite points. This particular form of construction is eX- tremely simple, and allows the handle 15 to swing relative to the base and to lie close to thebase when not in use.

The standard 12 may be,- and preferably is, a plain straight member, for instance, a piece ofpipe, or the like, of the desiredlength.

In accordance with the broader aspects of my invention, the standard may be connected with the base 13 in various manners, it being preferred, however, that it. be detachable from the base and that itv be mountable on the base in a simple and convenient manner. I have found it most desirable to mount the standard on the base 13 by forming a hole or socket. 18 in the top of the base to slidably receive the lower end of the standard 12. In practice the hole 18 may be drilled or otherwise formed in the base, it being desirable, of course, to form it sufficiently deep so that it will firmly hold the standard. I have referred to the standard l2 as being a piece of pipe, or the like, as a pipe makes a durable and rigid construction, and is considerably lighter than a solid rod would be.

The arm ll, which carries the signal l0, is, in accordance with my invention, pivotally connected with the upper end of the standard l2 so that it is movable to a position where it extends horizontally from the standarchas I have illustrated in Fig. l, and to a. position where it extends parallel to the standard l2, as I have illustrated in Fig. 2. In accordance with the preferred form of my invention, lV form a notch 2() in the npper end of the standard l2 to receive the inner end portion 29. of the arm ll. 'Ihe arm is pivotally connected with the stand ard by a pivot pin 2l., in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. 3, ll, and 5 of the drawings. The inner end portion 22 of the arm l1 is turned at right angles to the rest of the arm, so that the arm is pivotally connected 'with the standard about a transverse axis spaced from the longitudinal airis of the arm. The axis of the pivot pin 2l is off-set sufficient from the longitudinal axis of the arm 11 so that the arm an be swung to a position where its longitiildinal axis is parallel with the standard 'l2 and where it lies close to the standard lf2. In practice the axis of the pivot pin 2l is oflset just sufiicient so that the arm 'll Vwill lie close against the standard 'l2 when it is folded in, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4: of the drawings. In accordance with my invention, stop means is provided for supporting the arm l1 in the out or extended position, as illustrated in Figs. l and 3 of the drawings. In practice it is most desirable to proportion the depth of the notch 2O in the top of the standard 12 to the arm ll and pivotal connection between the arm and standard so that the bottom 23 of the notch forms a shoulder or stop which supports the arm. The manner in which the bottom 28 of the notch 20 supports the arm is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. From inspection of the drawings, and from the foregoing description, it will be readily understood how the arm ll can be easily swung over the top of the standard l2 between the extended position where it is supported by the bottom 23 of the notch 20 and the folded position where it lies against the side of the standard.

The signal part l0 may be of any suitable material, for instance, it may be a piece of cloth-preferably red cloth-and may be attached to the arm 11 in any suitable manner so that it hangs downwardly therefrom when the arm is extended. In the particular form of construction illustrated in the drawings, the arm 11 is formed of two parts 30 adapted to be held or clamped together by suitable screws or rivets 3l so that they grip the upper edge of the signal l0 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figs. l and G. It will be obvious, of course, that the signal part l() may be made of the desired proportions with relation to the other parts of the de vice, and that it may be colored or marked in any desired manner. rlhe signal part l() may be provided with tabs 33 so that it can be tied when wrapped around the arm and standard, in the manner hereinafter described.

When the device is in use the standard l2 is mounted on the base 13 and the arm 30 is arranged in the extended or horizontal position where the signal part l() hangs down wardly from it. It will be obvious, of course, that the signal part l0 in hanging downwardly from the arm 30 is particularly conspicuous and effective as a signal. When it is desired to take the device out of use it is folded and taken apart by swinging the arm 30 from the horizontal or extended position to the folded position, wrapping the signal part l0 around the arm and standard and then securing it by means of the tabs 33, as I have illustrated in F ig. 2, and removing the standard from the base. When the device is thus folded and taken apart it presents only two parts to be handled, both of which are simple and compact and convenient to handle. In fact, my present invention provides a device which is very little more cumbersome and inconvenient to handle than the ordinary simple signal formed by a signal part carried on a stake, and is infinitely more effect-ive and reliable than the ordinary simple form of signal, or any other signal herebefore commonly used. It has been found in practice that the device provided by this invention can be easily and quickly handled and that it is sufficiently simple and convenient that workmen will use it wherever possible.

Having described only a typical preferred form of my invention I do not wish to limitmyself to the specific details hereinabove set forth but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claim.

I-Iaving described my invention I claim:

A danger signal including a base, a stand ar'd adapted to be detachably mounted on the base, an arm having an offset part at one end, a pin pivotally connecting the offset part of the arm to the upper end portion of the standard whereby the arm is movable between a position where its main part is parallel with the standard and a position where its main part extends laterally from the standard, the standard being formed with a notch which receives the offset part of the arm and which forms a shoulder in the standard to engage the main part of the arm and support it in the last mentioned position, a signal part carried by the arm, the signal part being of flexible material and carried by the arm to hang therefrom when the arm is in the last mentioned position and to Wrap around the arm and standard when the arm is parallel to the standard, and taps on the signal part for securing it when Wrapped aroun'd the arm and standard.

In witness that I claim the foreoing I have hereunto subscribed my name t is 31st day of March, 1923.

, FRED A. BROWN. 

